Dive stabilizer for kites



ATTO RN EY S A. MARSHALL DIVE STABILIZER FOR `KITES Filed June 9, 1947 Oct. 19, 1948.

FIG.|.

Patented Oct. 19, 1948 UNITED .STATES PATENT CFFICE DIVE STABILIZER lFOR KITES Alfred Marshall, Bay Shore, N. Y.

AApplication June 9, 1947, Serial No. 753,555

2-1'Claims.

1 The ,present invention relates to a dive stabilizer for kites and more particularly to a device Veiective to compensate for variations in wind lpressure on the kite so as tohmainltain stability `and toprevent diving of the kite.

'It is an object of .the present Vinvention to provide apsimple andinexpensive device effective to stabilize the kite against diving.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dive stabilizer having means responsive t variations in wind pressure to effectautomatic adjustment between the kite and the kite string.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dive stabilizer for kites including meansresponsive to variations in wind pressure for varying the effective point of attachment of a kite string to the ki-te.

It isa further object of the present invention ito provide a dive ,stabilizer for 'kites including means responsive to variations in Wind pressure or to tension in thekite string for effecting oneway adjustment of the effective lpoint of attachment of the kite'string'to the kite.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dive stabilizer for kites including vmeans responsive to variations in wind pressure or tension in the kite string to effect vertical adjustment of the eiective lpoint of attachment of '.the string to the-kite.

It is a feature of the present invention 'to provide a dive stabilizer for'ktes comprising a fbar, a kite string connecter element slidable along said bar, resilient means urging said element upwardly on said bar and a retainer `effective to -prevent upward movement of said element on saidobar from intermediate positions thereof.

It is a further feature of the present invention tto provide a dive stabilizer for .kites comprising a bar, Ya kite string connecter .element slidable vertically on said bar, biasing means urging said connecter element upwardly on said bar, a retain- ,er effective in operative `position to prevent upward movement-of said element on said bar, and latch means automatically operated'at-either-limiting position of said element to engage or disengage said element.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, esepecially when considered in conjunction with the vaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved kite stabilizer attached to a conventional kite;

.Figure 2 `is a fragmentary transverse section ,showing the kite stabilizer in Ielevation; Vand supportingstrings V2,3 and 24 and atop supporting string 25. At the bottom of the yguide bar 2| is a ring 2 8 which is illustrated as connected Vto the kite by the bottom string 21.

Adjacent the topof the guide lbar 2l is a link 30 having an eye 3l at its end adapted to be connected bya slack string 3;2 to the l.kite proper as -by means of an eyelet 33. The purpose of the link is to Yprevent spinning or twisting of the stabilizer -20 with -respect to the kite and it may be employed or not as seen `fit.

vLongitudinally slidable on the guide bar 2l is .a kitevstring connecter element 40. The element 40 has an apertured block 4| thereon providing an opening or eye Y42 Whose edges are rounded andthrough .which is adapted to pass an intermediate portion ofthe main kite string 43. Beneath the eye 42 is a small opening to which the .upper end of the kite string is permanently attached. vAdjacent; the bottom of the guide bar 42l 4is a rigid bracket 45 having an eye 4 6 formedftherein, the edgesof which are smoothly rounded andthrough which is adapted to pass a second intermediate portion of the kite .string 4,3, which Aportion is located between the end of the vstring secured in the opening ,44 4and the rstmentioned intermediate portionof the string passing through the eyelet 42. The .arrangement just described provides for a compound pulley effect whereby tension in the string :43 `tends to move the connecter element 40 downwardly on -the guide bar. 2l.

Biasing means are provided urging the/connecterelement 40 upwardly on the guide -bar V2| andthese means are illustrated herein asrtaking the form of a light tensionspring anchoredat its upper end as indicated at15l to the upper end ofthe guide bar. The connecter elementA has an arm 52 provided `with a-plurality offopenings, into one of which the lower end of the `tension spring l5f) is inserted. The plurality of openings -thus provided affords meansfor varying the ten- 3 sion of the spring and thus the operating characteristics of the kite stabilizer as a whole.

Secured to the underside of the connecter element Q is a retainer Sil having an opening 6i through which the guide bar 2l extends. The retainer Si] is pivoted to the underside of the con* necter element lili by means of a pin 52 and is further provided with a small opening 83 through whichpasses a ne guide wire 64 "having an upper unlatching stop 65 and a lower latching stop` 66. retainer S5 is inclined with respect to the guide bar 2l and slides along its inner edge as the connecter d0 is moved downwardly 'toward the bracket 5 by increased tension in the kite string d3. However, the retainer 60 in the position illus.r trated serves to prevent upward movement of the connecter 40 on the guide bar 2l, as such'upward movement ,tends to cause slightl counterclockwise rotation of the retainer 66 and provides a wedging interlock between the retainer 6i) and the guide bar 2 I. f

Carried by the connecter 40 is a releasable In the position shown in Figure 2, the.

spring finger 10 adapted to engage the outer edge of the retainer 60 so as to retain the same in inoperative position and thus to permit both upward and downward sliding movement of the retainer on the guide bar 2|. In Figure 2 the connecter 40 is illustrated in dotted lines in its lowermost position, at which time the retainer 60 has engaged the latching stop 66, thus moving the retainer 60 up into engagement with the spring latch 10. At this time the connecter 40 is released for sliding movement along the guide bar to positions which will be determined by the tension of the spring 50 and the wind pressure acting on the kite or tension of the kite string 43.

However, when the con'necter element 453 reaches the uppermost limiting position the retainer 60 strikes the unlatching stop 65 carried by the guide wire 64 which releases the retainer from the latch 10. Thereafter motion of the connecter 40 in response to variations in wind pressure or in tension of the kite string 43 is limited to downward movement of the connecter 4U until such time as the connecter element has again reached its lowermost position so as to effect unlatching of the retainer 60.

The dive stabilizer for kites specically described above operates to eiect automatic adjustment of the operative point of connectionbetween the kite string and the kite, and increases in the wind pressure cause downward adjustment of the connecter 40 and hence of the aperture 42 which determines the effective pointY of connection of the kite string 43. If during normal operation of the kite it is desired to eiTect release of the connecter'element 40 for upward movement on the guide bar 2| the necessary downward movements of the connecter element may bey effected by strong pulls on the kite string, thus moving the connecter element 40 to its lowermost or retainer latching position, and thereafter upward movements of the connecter element may be as determined by tension in the kite string and thev predetermined tension of the spring 5U. In like manner, the operator can adjust the position of the connecter element toward lower position by tugging on the kite string so as to move the connecter to any desired lower position; If it is moved too far downwardly, it may be similarly moved to latching position, permitted to return to unlatching position, and

4 thereafter returned to desired intermediate psition.

The drawings and the foregoing specication (constitute a description of the improved dive stabilizer for kites in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the :appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is: y 1. A dive stabilizer for a kite comprising a guide vbar, a string connecter element movable on said 3. A kite stabilizer comprising a, guide bar, a Y

string connecter element slidable on said bar, and biasing means urging said element upwardly on said bar, said element constructed for permanent connection to an end of a kite string and having' a rst eye therein for slidably receiving an intermediate portion of the kite string, and a second eye piece carried adjacent the lower end of said bar for receiving a portion ofthe kite string between its end and the portion thereof in said rst eye. whereby tension in said string exerts a pulley effect to move said element downwardly against the force of said biasing means.

4. A kite stabilizer comprising a guide bar, a string connecter element slidable on said bar, 'and biasing means urging said element upwardly on said bar, said element includinga one-way retainer effective to prevent upward movement of said element on said bar. f

5. A kite stabilizer comprising a guide bar, string connecter element slidable on said bar, and biasing means urging said element upwardly on said bar, said element including a one-way retainer effective to Iprevent upward movement of said element on said bar and a latch for said retainer effective when engaged to render said retainer inoperable.

6. A kite stabilizer comprising a guide bar, a string connecter element slidable on said bar, and biasing means urging said element upwardly on said bar, said element including a one-way retainer effective to prevent upward movement of said element on said bar and a latch for said retainer eiective when engaged to render said retainer inoperable, said stabilizer having latch operating means adjacent the top and bottom of said bar effective respectively upon engagement with said latch to disengage andV engage said latch. l

V'7'. A kite stabilizer comprising a guide bar, a string connecterelement slidable on said bar, and biasing means urging said element upwardly on said bar, said element including a one-way retainer eiective to rprevent upward movement ofv said element on said bar, said retainer comprising an .apertured plate surrounding said bar and pivotally supportedat one sideofV said bar from said element. Y

8. A kite stabilizer comprising a gui-de bar, a string connecter element slidable on said bar, and biasing means urging said element upwardly on said bar, said element including a one-way` re` tainer effective to prevent upward movement of said element on said bar, said retainer comprising an apertured plate surrounding 'said bar and pivot-,ally supported at one side of said bar from Asaidelement andi a spring latch releasablyv eng'ageable with said retainer.

9. A kite stabilizerl comprising a guide bar, a string connecter element slidable on said bar, and bia-sing means urgingsaid element upwardly on said bar, said element including a one-way retainer effective to prevent upward movement of saidV element on said bar, said retainer comprising an apertured plate surrounding said bar and pivotally supported at one side of said bar from said element and aspring latch releasably engageable with saidretainer, a guide wire Slidably engaging saidA retainer and stops on said guide wire engageable with said retainer in limiting position thereof effective to'engage and disengage said retainer with said latch,

10. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable thereon longitudinally of said kite, a kite string secured to said stabilizer and engaging said element, said element being effective to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, and means responsive to wind pressure to cause compensating movement of said element.

11. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable thereon longitudinally of said kite, a kite string secured to lsaid stabilizer and engaging said element, said element being effective to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, and means responsive to wind pressure to cause downward movement of said element upon increase in wind pressure.

12. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable thereon longitudinally of said kite, a kite string secured to said stabilizer and engaging said element, said element being effective to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, means responsive to wind pressure to cause downward movement of said element upon increase in wind pressure, and additional means preventing upward movement of said element until said element has reached its lower limiting position.

13. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable thereon longitudinally of said kite, a kite string secured to said stabilizer and engaging said element, said element being effective to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, means responsive to wind pressure to cause downward movement of said element upon increase in wind pressure, and additional means preventing upward movement of said element until said element has reached its lower limiting position, said additional means being thereafter effective to permit either upward or downward movement until said element has reached its upper limiting position.

14. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable thereon longitudinally of said kite, a kite string secured to said stabilizer and engaging said element, said element being effective to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, means respon- `sive to wind pressure to cause downward movement of said element upon increase in wind pressure, and additional means preventing upward movement of said element until said element has reached its lower limiting position, said additional means being thereafter effective to permit andren element has reached its upper limiting position and being effective after said element has reached upper limiting position to prevent upward movement of said element until said element has again reached its lower limiting position,

15. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable along the longitudinal axis of said kite, and a kite string engaging said element, movement of said element being operable to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite.

16. InY combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on saidkite including a connecter element movable along the longitudinal axis of said kite, and a kite string engaging said element, movement of said element being operable to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, resilient means opposing downward movement of said element.

17. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable along the longitudinal axis of said kite, and a kite string engaging said element, movement of said element being operable to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, resilient means opposing downward movement of said element, a retainer permitting downward movement of said element against the opposition of said resilient means but preventing upward movement thereof.

18. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable along the longitudinal axis of said kite, and a kite string engaging said element, movement of said element being operable to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, resilient means opposing downward movement of said element, a retainer movable with said element -on said stabilizei1 permitting downward movement of said element against the opposition of said resilient means but preventing upward movement thereof.

19. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable along the longitudinal axis of said kite, and a kite string engaging said element, movement of said element being operable to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, resilient means opposing downward movement of said element, a retainer movable with said element on said stabilizer permitting downward movement of said element against the opposition of said resilient means but preventing upward movement thereof, a latch engageable with said retainer effective to hold said retainer in inoperative position so as to permit both up and down movement of said retainer as determined by the force of said resilient means and the tension of said kite string.

20. In combination, a kite, a dive stabilizer on said kite including a connecter element movable along the longitudinal axis of said kite, and a kite string engaging said element, movement of said element being `operable to shift the effective point of connection of said string along the longitudinal axis of said kite, resilient means opposing downward movement of said element, a retainer movable with said element on said stabilizer permitting downward movement of said element against the opposition of said resilient means but preventing upward movement thereof, a latch engageable with said retainer effective to hold said retainer in inoperative position so as to permit both up and down movement of said retainer as determined by the force of said lresilient means and the tension of said kite string, a latching stop on said stabilizer engageable with said latch at the lower limiting'position of said element.

21. In combination, a kite, a Vdive stabilizer on said vkite including a connecter element movable yalong-the longitudinal axis of said kite, and a kite `mitting downward movement of said element 15 Aagainst the opposition of said resilient means but preventing upward movement thereof a latch engageable with said retainer effective to hold said retainer in inoperative position so as to vpermit both up and Vdown movement of said retainer as determined by the force of said resilient means and the tension of said kite string, a latching stop on said stabilizer engageable with said latch at the lower limiting position of said element and an unlatching stop on said stabilizer engageable with said latch at the upper limiting position of said element. 1

ALFRED MARSHALL.

No referencescited. 

